Mirror Group Newspapers Faces Legal Battle Over Alleged Phone Hacking Scandal

Mirror Group Newspapers (MGM) is currently embroiled in a legal battle defending itself against accusations of unlawful information gathering, including phone hacking, targeting well-known personalities such as Prince Harry.

Other notable figures pursuing legal action against the UK publisher include Sir Elton John, David Furnish, Elizabeth Hurley, Sadie Frost, and Doreen Lawrence.

Prince Harry made a significant appearance as a witness in June, marking a historic moment as the first member of the British Royalty to testify in court since the 19th century.

In the ongoing High Court trial, the claimants have accused MGM of illicitly accessing private information spanning from 1991 to 2011.

David Sherbourne, representing Prince Harry, condemned the defendant's actions as “blatantly unlawful and illegal,” emphasizing the appalling nature of the methods used.

He asserted that no individual should have been subjected to such invasion of privacy.

While MGM disputes the allegations, court documents reveal that the publisher acknowledged employing a private investigator in 2004 to unlawfully gather information in one instance.

In response to this admission, an apology was extended to Prince Harry, acknowledging his right to appropriate compensation.

However, during court proceedings, MGM's lawyers argued that Prince Harry's claims for damages were excessive, proposing a mere £500 compensation instead of the over £200,000 sought by the Duke of Sussex.

They contended that much of the information in question had already been publicly disclosed by other media outlets or palace representatives.

The legal team representing MGM emphasized that Prince Harry's claim against the publisher was exaggerated and lacked substantial basis.

They suggested that the Duke's lawsuit was aimed at reforming the British media industry rather than seeking rightful compensation for the alleged privacy breaches.

Despite expressing sympathy for Prince Harry's challenging experiences with the media, MGM's lawyers maintained that the Prince's demands for compensation were unreasonable.

They argued that the Prince's public status did not exempt him from the burden of proving his case, placing the responsibility squarely on his shoulders.

During the lengthy trial, both sides incurred substantial legal costs, with the proceedings lasting for seven weeks.

Prince Harry's public image has also come under scrutiny, with polls indicating a significant portion of the British population holding unfavorable views towards him and his wife, Meghan Markle.

The latest YouGov poll revealed that a majority of Britons actively dislike Prince Harry, while an even higher percentage expressed disinterest in Meghan Markle.

These sentiments raise concerns about the couple's public perception and the potential impact on their initiatives, such as the Archewell foundation.